Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Cowp, Coup, v.¹ Also: cowpe. [Cf. ME. cowpe (rare) to strike.]

1. tr. and intr. To turn up; to upset, overset, overturn. 1558-66 Knox II. 15.
The poore woman perceaving … that he stoupit down in hir tub … cowped up his heillis, so that his heid went doun 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 20.
His mynd was only to dryve tyme till he could find oportunitie to cowpe the court c1610 Melvil Mem. 404.
What soeuer he be that reposes upon his gud seruice, is commonly cowped and wraked 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. 136.
The whirling stream will make our boat to coup 1653 Brodie Diary 33.
These lands have devoured their judges and couped them

2. To empty out by overturning. 1653 Sir J. Hope Journal 155.
[I began] to inspect the earth about it & I thoght it lay all in little heapes as if it had been new coupped out of hurlebarrowes